ARSON ATTACK CASE

Hearing on Khaleda’s bail petition April 8

A court in Comilla on Wednesday set April 8 for hearing on the bail petition filed by Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia in a case of arson attack on a bus that killed eight people and injured 20 others at Jodhomanpur in the district on February 3, 2015.As Khaleda did not appear in Comilla court, the court gave a notice to the Dhaka Central Jail authorities asking them to explain why she did not appear on Wednesday.The judge of Comilla 5 no court, Qazi Arafat, gave the order. Khaleda’s lawyer Advocate Kazi Nazmus Sadat confirmed this.The acting judge of Comilla fifth cognizable court, Kazi Arafat, passed the order on Wednesday, allowing Khaleda’s lawyers’ appeal seeking time to hear the petition. Khaleda Zia’s lawyers — Kaimul Haque Rinku and Kazi Nazmus Sadat — submitted to the court that Khaleda was not present before the court and prayed to shift the date so that the hearing could happen in her presence. Khaleda is now in Dhaka Central Jail where she has been serving a five-year jail term awarded by a Dhaka court on February 8 in a corruption case.On March 12, the court of acting Judge Md Mustaine Bilha, responding to a prosecution petition for issuing arrest warrant against Khaleda, directed the Comilla jail authorities to produce Khaleda before the court on March 28.Comilla court inspector Subrata Banarjee had said on March 12 evening that the production warrant reached the Comilla Central Jail in the afternoon of the day.On March 13, Khaleda’s defence lawyers submitted petitions seeking withdrawal of the production warrant and bail for Khaleda. The court also had set March 28 for hearing the petitions, said Khaleda’s defence lawyers.